MHSAA football playoffs on tap this weekend

October 25, 2012

NEGAUNEE - They beat Iron Mountain 28-6 on the road Sept. 14, but now the Negaunee High School football Miners will host the Mountaineers at 7 p.m. on Friday in MHSAA Division 6 pre-district playoff action.

"That's a huge factor," veteran NHS head coach Paul Jacobson said of being home. "In front of our home crowd, that's a great environment in which to play."

He added he enjoys playing I.M. (5-4) and the Mountaineers are "solid in what they do."

Alex Dempsey on the line and Adam Francis at inside linebacker anchor a Negaunee defense that allowed only 222 yards and an average of 14.1 points a game.

"The biggest thing (in the game) is to control the ball and win the takeover margin," Jacobson said. "We have to execute when we have the ball.

"We're happy to be in the playoffs and the kids are focused. I attribute that to our senior leadership."

Ishpeming hosting Lincoln Alcona

After watching tape of Lincoln Alcona, longtime Ishpeming High School head football coach Jeff Olson noticed something right away:

"They run a full house 'T' offense, which is totally different than what we've seen (this season)," he said. "They also run a '30' defense.

"It's nice, in some ways, to see something different. But we have to be ready."

The Hematites (8-1) will entertain the Tigers (6-2) at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Ishpeming Playgrounds in MHSAA Division 7 pre-district playoff competition.

Lincoln Alcona has won its last three games. The Tigers average 31.5 points on offense while giving up 14.6 with the help of four shutouts.

"They have good size and a good fullback (Nathan Fettes), who's a power runner with good speed," Olson said.

The Hematites feature a similar runner in Eric Kostreva, who carried the ball 157 times for 1,153 yards (7.3 average) and 17 touchdowns during the regular season.

"Eric has been a workhorse since (quarterback Alex) Briones went out (with a broken foot)," Olson said. "We'll have to control the ball (Friday). The longer the ball is in our hands, the less time they have (on offense).

"They also look like a tough defensive team who can go after the ball."

On defense, Ishpeming will look to lineman Brad Wootke, back Hunter Wirtanen, linebacker R.J. Poirier and end Joey Lyle to control the Tigers' offense.

"The key will be our defense," Olson said, noting his team has allowed but 124 yards and 7.5 points a game this season. "We'll be going up against a high-powered misdirection offense."

Redmen travel to

Midland Saturday

Marquette Senior High School (5-3) will travel to downstate Midland to take on the Chemics (9-0) at 1 p.m. on Saturday in a game Redman head coach Dave L'Huillier said will be all about ball control.

"We have to use our running game to control the clock," he said. "We hope to shorten the game."

MSHS will rely on an offensive line featuring Great Northern Conference Lineman of the Year Joe Iwanicki at guard, and all-league first team pick Alex Sherbinow at running back.

Sherbinow rushed for 1,287 yards and 14 TDs this season.

"I hope we can run Sherbinow behind our strong offensive line and put some long drives together," said L'Huillier, whose team is making its third straight playoff appearance.

"We have to rely on our offensive line and use our running game effectively. But we also have to be able to throw the ball to keep (Midland) off balance."

The Chemics, in compiling the most Division 2 playoff points in the state at 113.778, allowed just 14.4 points a game while scoring 28.8 per contest.